Canberra, December 2 - After delivering a match-winning performance with a five-wicket haul in the Perth Test against Australia, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj attributed his return to form to advice from Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj’s performance was a significant rebound following a tough domestic season and underwhelming outings against New Zealand.

The 30-year-old pacer struggled in the domestic circuit and managed only two wickets in two Tests against New Zealand. However, Siraj found his rhythm and form in the first Test against Australia, thanks to Bumrah’s guidance.

Speaking after India’s six-wicket victory over the Prime Minister’s XI in a warm-up game, Siraj said, “I always talk to Jassi bhai (Bumrah). Even before the first Test, I discussed my bowling with him. He advised me not to get desperate for wickets and instead focus on bowling consistently in the same area while enjoying my game. He said, ‘If you still don’t get wickets, come back to me.’”

Siraj also sought advice from former India bowling coach Bharat Arun, who has been instrumental in shaping his career. “Bharat sir knows my bowling well and told me to enjoy it and not be anxious for wickets. That helped a lot,” Siraj said.

Ahead of the Australia tour, Siraj practiced under India’s fielding coach T. Dilip in Hyderabad. “I worked with Dilip sir before coming here, and that preparation gave me confidence. Now, I am enjoying my bowling more than ever,” he added.

India’s current bowling coach Morne Morkel has been a constant source of motivation for Siraj. “Morne keeps telling me that I am a warrior and that I will deliver wickets for the team. His words have been inspiring,” Siraj said.

Siraj looked in excellent rhythm during the warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI, where he bowled with the pink ball for the first time. He managed to dismiss former Australian Test batsman Matthew Renshaw.

With the second Test scheduled to begin in Adelaide on Friday, Siraj is gearing up for his first day-night Test with the pink ball. Sharing his observations, he said, “The pink ball is quite different from the red ball. Its seam is harder and more pronounced, and it has a shiny surface. I believe bowling back of a length will work better with the pink ball. Practice is the key.”

India leads the series 1-0 and will look to maintain their dominance in the upcoming Test under lights in Adelaide.

Cape Town, Jan 4 (IANS) After beating South Africa by seven wickets inside four and a half sessions in Cape Town, India captain Rohit Sharma praised fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj for his fiery spell of 6-15, which was instrumental in bowling out the hosts for just 55 in their first innings and set the base for the visitors’ series-levelling win on Thursday.

“Siraj's spell is something you don't get to see often. We kept it simple and the pitch did the rest for us. You still have to come and do it. Credit to Siraj and Bumrah and to Mukesh and Prasidh to support him in whatever way they did

“Obviously a great feat (to win a Test in Cape Town for the first time), but having said that we have to learn from whatever mistakes we made (in Centurion). The bowlers still had to put the ball in the right areas and the boys got rewarded for it,” said Rohit after the game ended.

Siraj, who got the Player of the Match award for picking his best figures in Tests, said he wished to bowl the good areas with the ball, which he missed in Centurion. “I didn't think too much and just wanted to hit the right areas.”

“Got the learnings from last game that I didn't hit the right lengths and I wanted to be relentless with my length here. When we play together with Bumrah, we analyse the wicket quicker and understand the plans. Keep supporting, keep loving.”

With the bat, India were comfortably placed at 153/4 on day one but sensationally lost six wickets for no runs. “We applied ourselves well and batted to get the 100-run lead, but not pleasing to see the last six wickets (fall for no runs). We knew that it's going to be a short game, we knew every run matters, and to get that lead was very important,” added Rohit.

He also urged his team to take pride over the win in a topsy-turvy Test in Cape Town. “When you come to this part of the world, it's always difficult but we take pride in our performance outside of India. South Africa always challenges us and for us to come out here and win, we can take pride in this performance.”

On Day Two, fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took 6-61 to limit South Africa’s lead to 78. He was then named as joint Player of the Series alongside retiring South Africa captain Dean Elgar for picking 12 wickets in two games on his return to Test cricket.

“As I said before, this ground will hold a special place in my heart. Fond memories of my first game and am happy it went well for me. The journey started in 2018 and we wanted to create an impact in all conditions. In India, the spinners do a lot more work.”

“The team is now going through a transition, but the message is the same. It's difficult to keep coming at it; we were happy we were able to do it in this game. I didn't expect this was going to happen (shortest Test) but a great series.”

Rohit also presented Elgar with a signed jersey from the Indian team as a mark of respect for a successful international career. “Such an important player for South Africa (on Elgar). Very, very gritty and his wicket -- we spoke about how we want to get him out quickly. We appreciate what he has done for South Africa. Brilliant career - best wishes ahead!”

Dubai, Oct 10 (IANS) Indian opener Shubhman Gill, bowler Mohammad Siraj, and England consistent batter Dawid Malan feature for the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award for September 2023.

The Indian opener, was in superb touch during the month of September as he amassed a total of 480 ODI runs at an imposing average of 80.

Gill scored two half-centuries and an impressive century against Bangladesh as India won the Asia Cup, and then continued that form into the ODI series against Australia.

The right-hand opener, Shubhman Gill, hit an excellent 74 in the opening match of the series in Mohali and bettered that performance when reaching triple figures in the next game when making 104 in Indore.

Shubhman Gill is yet to feature in the World Cup matches as he missed the opening encounter against Australia, on Sunday. He was suffering from dengue and was admitted to a hospital in, Chennai and is currently under medical jurisdiction.

A fresh report suggests that he has been discharged from the hospital but might miss tomorrow’s game against Afghanistan and also Pakistan’s match on 14. 

The right-arm pacer, Mohammad Siraj produced a handful of excellent spells during September but it was his match-winning six-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup that really stood out.

Siraj ripped through Sri Lanka's batting line-up to collect the superb figures of 6/21 and played a major role in helping India claim the coveted Asia Cup trophy.

In total, Siraj picked up a total of 11 wickets for the month at an average of just 17.27.

The reliable left-hander, Dawid Malan, displayed his class during the majority of September as he claimed the Player of the Series award for his performance during England's ODI series with New Zealand.

Malan played three matches during that series and registered scores of 54, 96, and 127 to show his prowess ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India.

The top-order batter also scored his runs at a quick clip, earning a strike rate of 105.72 overall during that New Zealand series.

Colombo, Sep 17 (IANS) Mohammed Siraj became only the second bowler to take a six-fer in a men's ODI Asia Cup final after Ajantha Mendis, as he picked a career-best 6-21 in a deadly spell to set up India’s eighth title with a ten-wicket thrashing of Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.

After play resumed at 3:40 pm, due to rain delaying the start, Siraj got massive help from movement off the pitch, making the ball talk both ways and leaving Sri Lanka batters bamboozled to pick a magnificent career-best 6-21 in seven overs, including four scalps coming in his second over of the game.

Apart from Siraj blowing away Sri Lankan batters and becoming first Indian bowler to take four wickets in an over, Hardik Pandya took three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah had a scalp to his name as the Indian fast-bowlers took all ten wickets in bowling out Sri Lanka for just 50, their second-lowest ODI total and the least they have scored in the format against India, as well as in the Asia Cup.

Bumrah gave India a dream start by enticing Kusal Perera to chase a wide, away-swinging delivery and the left-handed batter nicked behind to wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul moving to his left.

Siraj’s first over saw him bowl six outswingers and beat the batters four times, showcasing his accuracy and consistency, two constant pillars in him inflicting the perfect carnage on Sri Lankan batters, apart from varying his release points to bowl a nagging line and length.

On the first ball of his second over, Siraj bowled an outswinger yet again and Pathum Nissanka could drive only to backward point, who moved to his right to complete the catch. 

A dot ball later, Siraj trapped Sadeera Samawickrama lbw with a sharp nip-backer beating the inside edge and striking the batter in front of stumps.

On the very next ball, Charith Asalanka chipped the first ball he faced straight to cover point. Dhananjaya de Silva survived the hat-trick ball by punching Siraj past mid-on for four. But Siraj had the last laugh as de Silva pushed at an outswinger, giving a faint edge behind to take a catch.

Siraj grabbed his five-wicket haul in 16 balls by getting late movement at a fuller delivery to swing past Dasun Shanaka’s outside edge and sent the off-stump on a cartwheel ride. 

Seeing the carnage from the other end, Kusal Mendis tried to get Sri Lanka’s innings back on track from 12/6 by taking two boundaries square of the off-side against Bumrah.

But Siraj grabbed his sixth wicket by getting one to nip back in from outside off and castle Mendis through the gate, to grab the best figures by a fast-bowler in the men’s ODI Asia Cup. Pandya joined the wicket-takers list by bouncing out Dunith Wellalage, giving Rahul a simple catch on the top edge. He took out the remaining two wickets to end Sri Lanka’s innings at 50 in 92 legal balls.

Chasing a paltry 51, India sent Ishan Kishan to open alongside Shubman Gill, who completed the chase with 263 balls remaining. Gill began by nonchalantly flicking Pramod Madushan for four, and Kishan ramped and slashed Matheesha Pathirana for back-to-back fours.

Gill feasted on Madhushan’s deliveries by nailing a drive, punching past point and slamming a pull to take three boundaries off him to race through the chase. 

He and Kishan took a four each off Pathirana via a flick and drive respectively, followed by Gill hitting a scintillating drive off Wellalage for four and Kishan taking the single to seal India’s easy win in just 37 deliveries. 

Brief scores: 

Sri Lanka 50 all out in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3) lost to India 51 for no loss in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27 not out, Ishan Kishan 23 not out) by 10 wickets

Barbados, July 27 (IANS) Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj has been rested for the ODI leg of the West Indies tour as a precautionary measure after he complained of a sore ankle, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) said on Thursday.

The BCCI, however, has not sought a replacement for the seamer, who flew back home with the rest of the Test contingent after India's 1-0 series win.

"The right-arm pacer has a sore ankle and as a precautionary measure has been advised to rest by the BCCI medical team. The team has not called for a replacement player for the ODI series, which commences on July 27, 2023, in Barbados," the BCCI said in a statement.

After the West Indies tour, India's schedule includes the Asia Cup, which is scheduled from late August to mid-September. Additionally, they will be engaged in a three-match ODI series against Australia at home in September ahead of the ODI World Cup at home in October.

The 29-year-old pacer has been playing regular cricket since the start of the year. Siraj has played in all ODIs for India against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia.

He was also part of India's 2-1 triumph in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Tests) and also played a crucial part in the IPL 2023 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he scalped 19 wickets in 14 matches, the most for RCB.

Siraj was also part of the World Test Championship Final squad at The Oval against Australia picking up five wickets before the West Indies series, where he picked up seven wickets in the two Tests, including a five-for in the first innings of the second Test.

Siraj would have led the pace attack with Umran Malik to support him. But now, in his absence, Shardul Thakur becomes the most experienced seamer in India's squad, with 50 wickets in 35 matches.

India’s updated ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar